Mighty Stormers are the best supported Super 15 side

Ex Sport 24

Cape Town - Despite a decrease in numbers, the Stormers were once again the best supported Super Rugby franchise this season.

According to Die Burger's website, the Stormers attracted an average of 33 545 fans to Newlands this season - more than any other Super Rugby team.

The figure is lower than the 38 123 average they had in 2012 but the figure is slightly skewed as they only attracted 10 451 in their home game - in the pouring rain - against the Kings compared to the 38 363 who watched the Lions play at Newlands last year.

The Bulls' figures were a bit of a shock considering they were the best performing South African team this season, finishing second on the overall log. Their average dropped from 31 783 per game last year to 29 134 in 2013.

The Sharks' figures (down from 23 616 to 19 491) can be attributed to their weak season in which they finished eighth overall.

Despite the 12).Cheetahs having their best season ever by reaching the playoffs, their figures didn't improve much (19 986 per game in 2013 compared to 17 364 in 2012.

Top bosses of the various unions had differing views on why attendance figures were lower this season.

"There is an increase in people watching Super Rugby on TV. They see a number of games per day and simply don't attend the match at the stadium," said Cheetahs CEO Harold Verster.

Rob Wagner, WP Rugby CEO, said the Super Rugby system needs change.

"There are a few factors that are problematic - the format of the competition and its duration, and the fact that you don't play against all teams - and the break for the June Tests. 

"The possibility exists that you won't play against the Crusaders or Reds, which will have a huge impact."

New Sharks CEO John Smit said people want to experience something extra on match day. 

"It's simply become easier to watch rugby on TV, and apart from good rugby you have to add extras to make the experience of visiting a stadium the most enjoyable for fans," said Smit.

Blue Bulls CEO Barend van Graan said their fans just aren't as interested in watching overseas teams than the local derbies.

Average home attendance for Super Rugby teams:

2012:

Stormers - 38 123 
Reds - 32 699
Bulls - 31 783
Sharks - 23 616
Waratahs - 20 646
Cheetahs - 17 364
Crusaders - 16 480
Blues - 15 930
Lions - 15 914
Highlanders - 15 866
Chiefs - 14 795
Rebels - 14 051
Hurricanes - 13 979
Brumbies - 13 936
Force - 13 409

2013:

Stormers - 33 545 (PLEASE SALUTE THE BEST FAN BASE IN SUPER 15
Reds - 31 837
Kings - 31 783
Bulls - 29 134
Blues - 20 354
Cheetahs - 19 986
Sharks - 19 491
Waratahs - 17 036
Crusaders - 14 908
Brumbies - 14 290
Chiefs - 14 081
Highlanders - 13 334
Force - 12 240
Rebels - 11 947
Hurricanes - 10 934

So there you have it. SA has the biggest fan base the most rugby depth and all we need is to get our structures right, selecton merit and nail the bent down under refs and we will resume our world rugby throne.

 Of course we are. We lead tv ausiences as well with 800 000 people who like to watch them. Unlike the Bulls we stick to our team through thick and thin

 Have to take a victory in something!

Bean Brain thats nothing - the Mighty Chiefs had 4 million supporters last night minus a few jealous Crusader fans that would have rather seen the Chiefs lose... but they're not so cheeky today for some reason.

You can't brag about any table topping Stormers side anymore either so looks like you're clutching at straws again buddy.

I really missed your official Chiefs / Brumbies thread though but i guess you've learnt yr lesson not to doubt the tenacity of the Mighty Chiefs.

Don't worry Bean Brain , yr not the only one with eggon their face and theirs always next year if you can find enough uninjured players in yr fragile team that can handle the World Champion Kiwis .  

 Hasbeeno you are pathetic! Do they give out a trophy for highest attendances? Haven't seen or heard of one actually.

Do you have the figures for most whingeing, whining, snivelling losers? I would imagine it would be Stormers supporters 1st and daylight to 2nd.

WTF??? o_O

i am shocked with these numbers, the blues has a better audience then the cheetahs and sharks???

i would have expeted ALL 5 NZ teams to be at the bottom, considering the population, havent run the numbers and i dont need to, but i would be surprised if all 5 NZ teams didnt top the list on a per captia basis.


good on the stormers though, of course, when NZ played in newlands, dont forget half the fans were for NZ, thank u caped crusaders, LMAO, :oD

 Beenkop, its just a pity they were so crap this year......they let SA rugby down, much like the Sharks did.......at least the Sharks rid themselves of the culprit, the Stormers still have clueless Coetzee on board.......expect 2014 with Aplon, Jean, de Jongh, Liebenberg and de Kock Steenkamp on board.

 Snapster it is disheartening having ou coetzee as a coach when we could do so much better!!!! He just cant get some balanced rugby going and his selections were piss poor and bog ordinary.

Dispite Coetzee the squad this year was so strong we could still have won the Supwer 15 barring injuries and impossibly bent kiwi refs. Victories over so many top Super 15 sides with second string teams showed that.

I am not too expectant though about next year. Too many quality players have left. The top fan base in Super 15 rugby - show some respect oaks - deserves better from WP. 

Happy to have Jean and Liebenberg on Board for 2014 snapster. Just hope they keep fit. I have feeling Elstadt will go back to lock.

saSUE and brycy discussing matters - 

Stormers fans should be aplauded for supporting an absolutely dismal season and standing by their team. Please check the numbers but the final for the Chiefs was attended by 21 000, if i am correct. If so, makes the Stormers supporters look even better.

well here in cape town tik abuse is also at record numbers so i dont hope those 2 stats are linked in anyway.....any supporter that enjoys the currenr stormers brand of rugby and the woefull coetzee must really be a obsessed supporter which is not a bad thing but the stormers supporters are being tested by jungle giver coetzee....

in the words of coetzee " its back to the drawing board"

Carpet Mandrax is used much more and that is where the Smokkies make their millions from not Tik. 

And what will that be Carpet. Winning?  WP have the best away record of any SA team. We do not have altitude to help building a fortress nor does the SHarks. The Bulls won only 15 away games over in Aus and NZ in its entire SR history. Fuck me now that is pathetic

I found this a article of 1991 of the WP Liga team? Anyone remember them. They won the old 1st devision once. They played harlem globetrotter rugby running from all  over the place. Sort of thing WP tried when it had its lean 90's. See how many of these guys you know

WP-Liga: Russel Roux; Chester Williams, Avril Williams,
Marthinus Linee, Kelvin Davids; Clark Ellis, Rudolf Paulse (k);
Francois van Wyk, Mornay Visser, Paul Carstens, Jerome Paarwater,
Fritz van Heerden, Marius Werth, Gideon Simons, Peter Bouwer.
RESERWES: Gideon Diljee, Jan Lambrecht en Richard Britton.
 

Wes-Transvaal: Wimpie Vermeulen; Pietman van Rensburg, D.P.
Swart, Guillaume Bryant, André Homan; Fanie Heymans, Eugene Hare (k);
Eddie Grobler, Jannie Putter, Henry Tromp, Don Berry, Sybrandt van
der Merwe, Papie Smit, Wickus van Heerden, Terence Stewart. Reserwes:
Ronnie Lotriet, Arnold Visser, Jannie van der Schyff. 

Eugene Hare played for ages for them. ow he was a Kickbot 3000. Lots of those WP ligue players went on to become WP players.

Funny thing is that Chester said in his book he had no development. Yet he was complaining about Small swearing at him in a schools boys match and he represented WP ligue at Craven Week, then WP LIga then WP then SA. If that ain't coming through the ranks I dunno what is. I really hate it when players talk kak to sells books. 

@spoony,

auckland -  population 1.3 million
durban - population 3.6 million

NZ should have occupied the bottom 5 positions easy. im not surprised that sharks had more viewers, buts its still a shock to see NZ have more spectators on average, the numbers would be even crazier if u were to put it on a per captia basis.

and whats ur gripe about the alcohol at kings park, is it a liquor free zone???

@rugganaut

"Stormers fans should be aplauded for supporting an absolutely dismal season and standing by their team. Please check the numbers but the final for the Chiefs was attended by 21 000, if i am correct. If so, makes the Stormers supporters look even better."

hamilton - population 145,000
waikato - population 413,100

cape town - population - 3.74 million
WP - 6 million
and no there was 25,000 at hamitlon stadium which was sold out, not bad when u look at the population size diffenrece.

@Sasuke

What does population size got to do with it. You forgot to count in Samoa Fiji, Tonga and others to NZ. And the NZ currency is stronger than the Rand and we have more poor people. There is about a million subscribers here out of a 50 million. 800 000 of them watch rugby.

Can't be;ieve for such a mad rugby nation they could have at least build a nice big staduim for the AB to show of in

Special mention goes to the Lions who filled Ellispark with 60 000 supporters for a SR relegation playoff. More than what the final can muster 

 Pfffft, it's no great feat to fill a stadium when the ticket prices were a measly 30 rand for an adult and 10 rand for children, students and pensioners. That's two adults, two kids and both grandparents for the princely sum of NZ$10. Even homeless tik fiends with a pocket full of pennies earned from selling junk at the nearest  robot could have afforded that entry fee. 

First of all you need a 60 000 seater stadium to do it.

And the fact is 60 000 people came and watch the match. Clearly show that ticket prizes is what kept supporters away not team performances. Cheers